SPECTRAFORCE’s Post

DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT, BE ABOUT IT 🌈 Celebrating #Pride at work is an important way to show LGBTQIA+ employees that your organization is a safe and inclusive space. 💡 According to a LinkedIn survey, 77% of queer professionals believe it's important that a prospective employer openly expresses support for the #LGBTQIA community. We think so, too! There are endless ways to observe Pride, from education (do you know about the Stonewall Riots?) to volunteering to supporting queer-owned businesses. But for maximum impact, your organization’s Pride celebrations should be creative, educational, and honor the historic roots of this heritage month. Here are 5 no-brainers for creating a more inclusive workplace 👇 #prideatwork #pridemonth #hr #hrcommunity

Let's Get Real -- We figured there's no better way to haze a new employee than by asking tons of questions so you can get to know her. 😉 We are excited for everyone to meet Melissa! 1. When did you join the Maven team? November 2023 2. What's your biggest professional goal for this year? I would like to gain confidence with my skills behind the camera 3. What is your WHY outside of work? What keeps you going? I want to be the person that makes everyone feel included and heard 4. Biggest passion outside of work? Figure skating and my family 5. Favorite cause to volunteer for? I participate a lot in the local LGBTQ+ community 6. How do you order your pizza? Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese 7. What song has been stuck in your head most recently? I'm Gonna Be by Post Malone 8. What is your favorite dessert? DQ Snickerdoodle Blizzard 9. What is an unpopular opinion you have? Bacon does not taste good #HireAMaven #BrandManagement #Marketing #MakingYourBusinessLookGood #KansasMarketingFirm

Three ways my colleagues have supported me in recent months: 1.) Without judgement or pressure, seeing me as a human first, and encouraging me to take the time off I needed, when I was having mental health struggles. Ally Monk 🏳️🌈 2.) Without hesitation, welcoming me into their home so I had a place to work whilst moving from London down to Brighton and hadn't yet got a stable internet connection or even a desk! 😲 Nathanielle Kumar Townsend 🧡 3.) Embracing me for who I am by giving me (and several other colleagues) the space to run an internal event championing the voices of members of the LGBTQ+ community. 🌈 Asking curious and respectful questions, and listening with interest. 🧡 Just three examples of many instances that epitomise the people and the culture at Bright Network. I feel lucky: I love what I do, and I love who I work with. If you're thinking this sounds like the kind of place for you - please get in touch! Perhaps you could be our next Events Manager. Or maybe a Partner Success Executive. Or how about a Senior Software Engineer? All these roles and more are open now, so get in touch with me, Shanice Hicks-Coffey or Adam Grant or check out all openings/apply here: https://lnkd.in/erQcpNap How have your colleagues supported you recently? 😊

While Pride Month is a time for celebration and visibility, allyship isn’t just for 30 days - it’s a year-round journey of learning, understanding, and advocating. Think about what you can do to create a more inclusive workplace and show up as a strong ally and advocate. - Go beyond surface-level understanding of LGBTQIA+ history, terminology, and current issues, and explore the diversity within the community. - Challenge discriminatory jokes, microaggressions, and exclusionary behaviour when you encounter them. Use your voice to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and create a culture of respect. - Advocate for inclusive policies, celebrate LGBTQIA+ contributions, and create opportunities for open dialogue. Allyship is a process, not a destination. Let’s all work together to create inclusive workplaces - not just this month, but always. #pridemonth #allyship #inclusion #diversity #lifeatgoogle

🌟Here’s a tip for HR and DEI teams across organisations as we head into Pride Month very soon: 🏳️🌈Let’s please go beyond the 1 day/week/month celebrations for PRIDE in June. That doesn’t truly help anyone besides professional goal sheets. 🏳️🌈Ask yourself - Does the LGBTQIA++ community look up to you as a loud and proud advocate and true ally or not? 🏳️🌈Action comes in different shapes and sizes. Whether it is consistently collaborating and supporting queer owned businesses, speaking out against discrimination or even actively seeking out opportunities to learn more about the community, there are a lot of things that can be done to empower the community depending on the stage of acceptance your organisation is in. 🌟Big or small, the idea is for your actions to be consistent and authentic. Something that helps you move the needle even a little bit.

Did you know that 1 in 5 LGBTQIA+ individuals face negative comments at work, and over a third feel pressure to hide their true selves? (Stonewall) These realities are unacceptable. 🌈✨ This Pride Month, let's celebrate progress while acknowledging the work to be done for LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Inclusive workplaces benefit everyone. Here's how you can be an ally: 🏳️🌈 Speak up: Challenge discrimination and promote acceptance. 🏳️🌈 Educate yourself: Learn about LGBTQIA+ experiences and history. 🏳️🌈 Promote open dialogue: Create safe spaces for honest communication. Let's work together to foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. #PrideMonth

As we kickoff Pride Month celebrations, it's important to remember that while we've made significant strides towards equality, there's still work to be done. Pride is more than just colorful parades and joyful celebrations; it's about recognizing and addressing the inequalities that persist. Despite the progress we've seen in recent years, many LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face discrimination, prejudice, and systemic barriers in various aspects of their lives. From unequal access to healthcare and employment opportunities to higher rates of homelessness and violence, the disparities faced by queer and trans folks are stark reminders of the ongoing fight for equality. Our top priority is creating and sustaining a culture of belonging and learning by: ✅ Allocating resources towards DEIB-focused employee development initiatives, inviting external speakers, and providing educational resources to increase awareness of key topics. ✅ Implementing inclusive recruitment and hiring strategies, including sourcing candidates from diverse backgrounds, and forming diverse interview panels to ensure equitable opportunities for all applicants.   As we celebrate Pride, we don’t lose sight of the work that still needs to be done.    Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈✨ #PrideMonth #Ultragenyx #Advocacy #Inclusion 

#day31 💚Bittersweet Farewell to Dwarfism Awareness Month 💚 As #DwarfismAwarenessMonth ends, I am grateful to my LinkedIn community. Your support and engagement have been remarkable. The key takeaways: 📌 Embrace Diversity 📌Break Stereotypes 📌Champion Inclusion Let's continue this journey, promoting understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity. Together, we make a positive impact. 💚 #dwarfismawarenessmonth #inclusionmatters

🌈 Thoughts on Pride Month and Performative Allyship 🥱 Rather than just adding a rainbow to your logo this Pride Month, here are 3 impactful ways to genuinely support the LGBTQIA+ community: 1️⃣ Support LGBTQIA+ Organisations: Offer both your time and money to groups that are making a real difference. 2️⃣ Create Inclusive Work Environments: Ensure your company's policies and practices are inclusive for all employees, present and future. 3️⃣ Collaborate with LGBTQIA+ Creators: Work with LGBTQIA+ creators on campaigns and initiatives, and make sure they are fairly compensated for their contributions. Just posting about Pride Month can lead to performative allyship. True support means backing your words with genuine actions. If you’re going to post about Pride Month, involve LGBTQIA+ voices in the creation and approval of your content... Got more ideas? Share them in the comments below! 👇 #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA #InclusiveBranding #RhinestoneCreative #LetsGetRhinestoned #MakeChange

Today I'm launching something new: #rainbowpositive It's based on three decades of creating change - as a teacher, a campaigner, an advocate, a trainer, a writer, and a consultant. I've called it "Rainbow Positive" and you can check it out on my new website. It's about creating change - in workplaces, services, community groups, professional associations, small businesses, faith communities - anywhere, in fact, that wants to engage more positively with the queer community. It's designed especially for those spaces where change meets more resistance - because of history, culture, faith, location, or demographics. I think of them as the 'hard to reach places' and they're where I work best. And it's perfect for the well-intentioned, but not very helpful "I just treat everyone the same" crew. I'm excited. Have a look. Call me. Let's create some change.